Butterflies of the World - Lifecycle, Ecology, Taxonomy, Conservation, Photography, Butterfly Holidays, Photo Galleries, Book Reviews and more.........
Text and photographs protected by Copyright © Adrian Hoskins 2007, and must not be published in part or in whole elsewhere without prior written permission from the author.
Butterflies of Britain & Europe
 
Large Skipper
Ochlodes venata TURATI, 1905
Family - HESPERIIDAE
subfamily - HESPERIINAE
 
 introduction | habitats | lifecycle | adult behaviour
 
Large Skipper Ochlodes venata, male, Glapthorn Cow Pastures, Northamptonshire, England
 
Introduction
 
The Large Skipper, in common with most members of the sub-family Hesperiinae, feeds in the larval stage on grasses. Another characteristic of the sub-family is the resting posture as depicted in the illustration, with the forewings held at 45 degrees, and the hindwings held flat. A third characteristic shared with many other Hesperiines is the presence of a dark streak of androconial ( pheromone producing ) scales on the forewings of males, as shown above.
 
This species is distributed across most of Europe, but absent from northern Scandinavia, Ireland, much of the southern Iberian peninsula, and most Mediterranean islands. Beyond Europe it's range extends across temperate Asia as far as Japan.
 
There are a colossal number of very similar species found throughout the world. In Britain however the only similar species is the Silver-spotted Skipper, which can easily be told apart by the presence on the latter of prominent silvery spots on the underside hindwings.
 
Large Skipper Ochlodes venata, female, Alice Holt Forest, Hampshire, England
 
Habitats
 
The butterfly occurs commonly throughout England and Wales in almost any grassy habitat, but favours damp but sunny sites such as woodland glades and rides, humid heaths, meadows, and riverside habitats. Almost all sites are characterised by the presence of bramble bushes and stands of bracken. Open grassland without bushes or shelter are also used but populations tend to be much lower.
 
Large Skipper Ochlodes venata, male, Stansted Forest
 
Large Skipper Ochlodes venata, female, Stansted Forest, West Sussex, England
 
Lifecycle
 
The Large Skipper is single brooded throughout it's range, normally emerging in June and July, although the flight period in Spain is somewhat longer.
 
The pale straw coloured dome-shaped egg is laid singly on the underside of grass blades, typically on cock's foot or false brome. It hatches after about 10 days.
 
The caterpillar feeds on soft lush grasses, favouring cock's foot Dactylis glomerata, but will also feed on red fescue Festuca rubra, false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum, purple moor grass Molinea caerulea and other species. It spends the early stages of it's life within a tube of grass made by joining together 2 grass blades with strands of silk. It periodically emerges from the tube to eject it's faeces, which it catapults some distance by flicking with 2 little prongs on it's tail.
 
It hibernates within a newly constructed tent of grasses, and resumes feeding in the spring. When fully grown in early May the larva rests openly on the upperside of grass blades, but retires to it's grass tube in inclement weather. The mature larva is green and unmarked, with a purplish black head.
 
The chrysalis is dark brown and shiny, with the long detached proboscis case projecting almost to the tip of the abdomen. It is formed within the larval shelter, head-upwards, and secured by bristles on the head and cremaster. The pupal stage lasts about 2 weeks.
 
Large Skipper Ochlodes venata, male, Ballard Down, Dorset
 
Adult behaviour

 

The Large Skipper has a rapid whirring flight, "skipping" from leaf to leaf. The butterflies settle to bask with wings held in the characteristic position as illustrated, typically on bramble leaves, bracken, or on the flower-heads or blades of cocksfoot and other tall grasses.

 

Males establish territories in sheltered sunny spots, perching on grass heads, bracken or other herbage. They vigorously defend their territories against other intruding male Large Skippers and against flies and other small rapidly flying insects. During territorial sorties pairs of males buzz frenetically around each other, while flying rapidly in broad circles, soaring to a height of about 4-5 metres above ground level. At this point they separate and the "owner" of the territory returns to it's original perch ( or very nearby ), while the intruding male moves on to set up another territory elsewhere.

 

I have not observed any form of courtship ritual, and assume that copulation takes place almost immediately after the sexes meet. Copulated pairs can often be found settled on bracken leaves, bramble bushes or coarse grasses in the late morning. When copulated both insects keep their wings closed, and are reluctant to fly, but will do so if disturbed.

 

At grassland sites the butterflies nectar at bird's foot trefoil, clovers and vetches, but in woodlands they particularly favour bramble blossom and thistles. On heathlands the most common nectar sources are cross-leaved heath and bell heather.

 
Large Skipper Ochlodes venata, territorial male perching on grass head, Ballard Down, Dorset
 
Large Skipper Ochlodes venata, female, Bentley Wood, Wiltshire, England
 
                                                       
Almost every British and European species of butterfly is declining rapidly in numbers, due in most cases to loss or degradation of habitats.
 
You can help to reverse the decline by supporting conservation organisations which purchase and manage habitats as nature reserves, and which lobby government at local, national and international levels, often very successfully, to bring about changes in farming, forestry and urban development policies.
 
Please contact the conservation organisations for advice on how you can help protect British and European butterflies and their habitats. You may be able to offer practical help e.g. by monitoring butterfly populations or helping to manage nature reserves. Donations to these organisations enable them to employ ecologists and biologists. Even if you are unable to provide such help, merely having your name on the membership list can be a powerful tool for conservation organisations wishing to demonstrate the levels of support they have for their policies.

 

 

 
 
Text and photographs protected by Copyright © Adrian Hoskins 2007-2008, and must not be reproduced or published in part or in whole elsewhere in any form without written permission from Adrian Hoskins. Breach of copyright will be pursued by litigation.
 
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